STORY BY: CHACE MURPHY
SHENANDOAH – College Park capitalized on Bryan miscues and used a ball-hogging ground attack to defeat the Bryan Vikings on Thursday night.
Bryan’s first mistake came when quarterback Chris Johnson was tackled in the end zone on a punt return to put the Cavaliers up 2-0.
College Park took the free kick and scored their first touchdown in only four plays as running back Connor McPherson scored from 15 yards out. The extra point was no good and the Cavs led 8-0.
Bryan looked like they would cut into the lead early, but a Johnson fumble inside the Cavalier 20 was returned by defensive lineman Jesse Jahn. College Park finished off the drive with a 22-yard touchdown run from Alex Young, extending their lead to 15-0.
The ensuing kickoff began a back and forth that continued into the second quarter.
Bobby Johnson, making it three games in a row with big plays, took the kickoff 76 yards for Bryan’s first score. Chris N. Johnson added the extra point to make it 15-7 with 1:17 in the first quarter.
College Park added a 54-yard touchdown run from Austin Boudreaux on the next possession. Bryan answered with a 50-yard touchdown run from Kevin Jefferson. And Zach Wright ran in another Cavalier score from 37 yards out.
By the time the dust settled with 10:11 left in the first half, College Park led 29-14. McPherson added his second touchdown with 17 seconds left in the second quarter, and the Cavaliers led 36-14 at halftime.
College Park picked up in the third quarter where they left off in the first half, forcing a Viking punt on Bryan’s opening possession. Wright capped off a long drive with a one-yard touchdown to make it 43-14.
Bryan’s Thursday nightmare continued when Alvin Adams muffed the ensuing kick, setting up College Park at Bryan 31. McPherson added his third touchdown of the night with 45 seconds left in the third, extending College Park’s lead to 50-14.
The lone second half bright spot for Bryan came as the Vikings converted a fourth down against the Cavaliers’ second-team defense. Chris Johnson threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Jefferson, making it 50-21.
Bryan begins play in District 12-AAAAA next Friday when they host Killeen Ellison at Merrill Green Stadium.